EU divided over Russian oil embargo: why Hungary and Slovakia said no

There European Commission presented the new package of sanctions against the Russiawhich must now be approved a absolute majority by the EU Council. But a few hours after the expected announcement, i Twenty seven they seem to divide and they still have to win last resistances

WATCH THE VIDEO: The EU depends on Russian oil for 22%, Italy 11%

In the sixth package of sanctions to hit Moscow, the ‘phasing out’ from crude oil imports from Russia it will be the main weapon. But the proposal of “a total ban import of all Russian oil, by sea and by pipeline, crude and refined ”

Why the EU wants to hit Russian oil instead of gas: the Skywall

THE knots to untie however, concern the exit times from Russian dependence and the ability to grant exemptionsat least temporary, for those countries so constrained as to risk a severe backlash for their own economy

Ukrainian war, Biden blocks oil imports from Russia

“We will make sure of gradually eliminate Russian oil, in order to allow us and our partners to insure alternative supply routes and to minimize the impact on global markets ”, explained the president of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen. “We will eliminate the Russian crude within six months and refined products by end of year”

EU, dependence on Russian gas also to keep Moscow linked to Brussels

They got their hands on immediately Slovakia and Hungaryappealing to the request of a special exemption. The embargo, the representatives of the two governments explained, would be too heavy for a country to bear landlocked and entirely dependent on deliveries of the Druzhba pipeline

Energy, what issues must the EU resolve to give up Russian oil

The two countries are largely dependent on Russian crude oil: as reported FutureHungary receives the 58% of its requirement oil and derivatives, while Slovakia is almost totally dependent on it, with the 96% of its supply imported from Russia

This is why in the draft agreement there is the Commission’s proposal for exempt Hungary and Slovakia temporarily from enforcing the blockade of oil imports from Russia: not by the end of 2022, but until the end of 2023

Concessions though they weren’t enough in Budapest: “As it stands we will not support the proposal”, replied the spokesman for the Hungarian government, Zoltan Kovacs, effectively threatening the veto. Kovacs explained that Budapest sees “no plans or guarantees on how a transition” from Russian oil “could be managed on the basis of current proposals and how the energy security of Hungary ”

The sanctions of the European Union against the Russian energy sector I’m a red line for Hungarythe Hungarian Prime Minister reiterated Viktor Orban, according to reports from the Russian agency Tass. “I was ready to agree with the first five EU sanctions packages, but I made it clear from the start that there is a red line: the sector energy“, he said

The goal of Hungary and Slovakia in threatening the veto could be to obtain “compensations “further in addition to the derogation “until 2023”, in order to allow extinction natural gods contracts already existing with the Russia (with the prohibition of stipulating new ones)

However, the variable risks creating a domino effect on others Villages as the Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, which are almost 100% dependent on Russian oil and which may require ad hoc treatments. The feeling is that unanimity on the proposal will serve a few more daysdespite the goal of reaching an agreement by the weekend